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It was an exciting night of boxing last Friday before St Pattyʼs day, March 14, on another great CES card. The atmosphere was electric at Twin Rivers Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island as the fan favorite and New England star Peter “The Pride of Providence” Manfredo Jr. got back on the horse against tough York, South Carolina native Shane “The Irish Hit man” Benfield in the super middleweight main event of the evening.
A great co-feature pitted the IWBF Lightweight Champion Jamie “The Hurricane” Clampitt against the always tough, ten time title challenger Belinda Laracuente. Clampitt was coming off both a win over Jane Couch in a rematch of The Ring Magazineʼs 2004 Womenʼs Fight of the Year and a win over former champion Mia St John.
The night also saw a slew of terrific supporting bouts with knockouts galore.
The Manfredo Benfield bout promised fireworks, as is the case every time that Rhode Islandʼs favorite son comes home. The hard hitting Benfield would be sure to check the chin of the never down Manfredo.
Benfield came into the bout scoring nine knockouts in seventeen victories and bearing only one defeat. With thirty four fights to his credit, Manfredo was clearly the more experienced fighter, although Benfield was five years his senior.
Benfield entered the ring taunting the crowd and pounding his chest, seeming relaxed and confident. Fittingly, Peter Manfredo marched into the ring to the tune “Iʼm Back In The Saddle Again”.
Manfredo comes out in the first round tentatively, as does Benfield. Manfredo misses early with a big left hand but comes back in moments later with two left hooks to the ribcage of Benfield. Benfield tries to return the favor to the body but Manfredo backs away.
Benfield misses with two wild right hooks and it is apparent early how slow the South Carolinian is. Manfredo counters with a right hook to the head and a left flush on the body with a thud. Benfield tries to retaliate with a haymaker but is, again, like molasses.
The second round starts off slow. Iʼm wondering why Manfredo hasnʼt pounced on him yet as Benfield has done nothing thus far to gain his respect. Manfredo begins to land a few jabs but finally eats a decent left hook. Manfredo, then, while going straight back is on the receiving end of a three punch body attack.
Benfield jabs out as Manfredo circles. The two men trade jabs and Manfredo goes back to the body. It is now clear that Manfredo is not planning to take him out early, but is intent on working the body to wear his rival down. At the conclusion of the round, Manfredo lands a good uppercut to the midsection.
Round three begins with Manfredo storming out of his corner to land two nice left hooks that make Benfield smile. He didnʼt do so for long as Manfredo lands a stiff left hand to make him pay. The two men trade jabs in the center of the ring. Manfredo, then, as if sensing something, jumps in with a six punch succession of shots that stun Benfield.
Manfredo again bombs him with an uppercut, hook combination. The action is really getting going here in the third as Manfredoʼs brutal body attack persists. Benfield leaned in and tried for some work inside but Manfredo fired a hook to the body and a quick, hard one-two upstairs. Manfredo is fighting well and seems to be taking steam out of the very game Benfield.
Manfredo lands a brilliant left hook in an exchange to begin the fourth stanza. Manfredo is getting the best of nearly every firefight thus far. Manfredo lands a straight right hand that damages the other man. Benfield fires back and lands wide hooks with both hands. Manfredo was having none of it, hurting Benfield in the body and then snapping the head of his opponent back with a right hand.
Benfield is staggered by this combination but still is able to spin Manfredo against the ropes and rip him with a few quick blows that do no damage. Manfredo escapes and rushes the challenger again, still working that body. This was the most action of the fight so far. Manfredo is really picking it up now, with his early bodywork paying dividends.
Manfredo cracks Benfield with the jab to start the fifth round; heʼs really pumping it out there. Benfieldʼs face is red and his nose is bloodied while Manfredo has not a mark on him. Benfield is now missing wildly.
This round is a beat down as it consists of Benfield missing big, time and time again, while Manfredo waits to strafe him with combinations of hooks and uppercuts to the body and jabs to the head. Benfield is looking for a big shot that never comes.
The sixth round begins with Benfield being examined by the ringside doctors as he has absorbed so much punishment but the contest is allowed to continue. Manfredo looks fresh as he lands one twos at will and Benfield has no head movement. The referee waves the fight off with Benfield trapped on the ropes, taking damage and not firing back at 2:30 of the round number six.
Benfield did not protest the stoppage; he knew he was defeated. This was a good solid victory for “The Pride of Providence”. He really is back in the saddle again. Manfredo improves to 29-5-0 (14) while Shane Benfieldʼs record falls to 17-2-0 (9).
Jamie Clampittʼs anticipated return was met with chants of her name and thunderous applause as she entered the ring to “Shipping Up To Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys. She would meet speedster Belinda Laracuente for the IWBF Lightweight title. Clampitt, the ever exciting hometown hero, would be in for a tough challenge against this skilled counter puncher.
As the first round begins, Clampitt comes out measuring with her jab. Laracuente is leery of the punch and backs off, dancing as Jamie stalks her. Jamie, seeing her speed and energy, works the midsection of the smaller framed Laracuente with hard hooks.
Laracuente starts to land the jab and backs Clampitt off. Both ladies walk in with no head movement and as a result, they both eat each otherʼs jabs. Clampitt continues her bodywork as the round comes to a close.
The second stanza shows Clampitt getting that work rate up. She knows that with Laracuente being the naturally smaller woman, sheʼs going to have to take some of the wind out of her sails or sheʼs not going to be able to catch her. The round sees a plethora of jabs from both ladies, but is highlighted by a hard uppercut that Clampitt lands to Laracuenteʼs sternum. As the round ends, Laracuente lands a quick one two.
Clampitt comes out firing to the body in the third round as sheʼs still trying to slow Laracuente down. Clampitt is hitting with force, but is tiring as well and her clutching increases. Clampitt, releasing from a hold, triples up the jab and she seems to be getting her second wind.
Clampitt lands a stiff right hand, but Laracuente fires back in retaliation. They both flurry towards the end of the round. Clampitt continues to focus on the body. She is the slower of the two, but shows more skill both in accuracy and timing.
In round four, Clampitt comes out firing with right uppercuts and jabs. Her work rate has come way up and she looks comfortable in there. Clampitt is now just pawing with the jab as a decoy until she pours it on with some great inside fighting. Clampitt has taken control of the fight in this round and is showing she is the definitive aggressor.
Laracuente comes out in the fifth round countering Clampittʼs shots, negating the champion’s aggression. Laracuente has her hands at her sides, inviting Clampitt in and making Clampitt miss with brilliant upper body movement ,but not doing enough work to take the round. Laracuente jabs Clampitt until two hooks bang Laracuente in the head. Clampitt is really trying to hurt her and not just win on points.
The sixth stanza starts out slow, but soon lights on fire when Clampitt traps Laracuente against the ropes and rips her to the body; you can really hear these blows. Clampitt means business. Laracuente is still using great reflexes as her defense rather than her gloves and making Clampitt miss.
Clampitt bulls her into the ropes and unleashes yet another brutal body attack, but seems to run out of steam leaving Laracuente a hole. Clampitt takes damage to the body as she is gassed and Laracuente seems to steal the round.
With some rest, Clampitt comes out with her laser jab working in the seventh. Sheʼs working hard, but you can see that sheʼs tired, holding but not allowing Laracuente any room to throw. Clampitt gets in some nice work to the body, but is caught clean by a Laracuente right hook. Clampittʼs aggressiveness won her the round but Laracuente isnʼt allowing her room for mistakes.
In the eighth round, Clampitt throws five fast jabs and connects with the last one with the right hand dropping just after like a trip hammer. Clampitt goes to the body and is warned for a low blow. Clampitt lands a four punch combination but Laracuente gets her off with an uppercut.
Clampitt is just outworking Laracuente inside as that bodywork is now showing it’s effectiveness. Jamie fires two straight right hands upstairs. Laracuente gets hurt to the body at the end of the round and she covers up.
Laracuente dishes out a nice right, left combo early in the ninth. The ladies go jab for jab in the center of the ring before Jamie lands a right hook to the head. Clampitt then catches fire as she charges Laracuente and lands blistering hooks to her body. They begin vicious inside fighting with Clampitt coming out on top. Laracuente is getting outworked.
In the tenth and final round, Clampitt goes back to the jab before working her way inside on Laracuente and digs again to the body. Clampitt is just the fresher of the two, landing the harder, cleaner blows and more of them. Clampitt gets ripped with a fast one-two, but in the last twenty seconds, Clampitt unleashes a damaging barrage of punches. Laracuente valiantly fights back, but Clampitt again outworks her.
In an action packed bout, “The Hurricane” pulled out a hard fought majority decision over Belinda Laracuente to retain her IWBF strap. Judge Wayne Lima scored the bout 97-93, Judge Clark Sammartino saw it also 97-93 and Judge Ed Scunzio saw the bout as a draw at 95-95.
Jamie Clampitt improved to 19-4-1 (7) while Belinda Laracuente will fall to 23-22-3 (9).
In other action, Providence cruiserweight Joey “KO Kid” Spina was back in the ring, going up against tough Henry “Hurricane” Mayes.
In the first stanza, Spina stars with a jab, right hand combination. Spina is already looking for that big right hand that has done so much damage over the course of his career. Mayes is jabbing, but not landing any. Spina is backing Mayes up and not allowing him off his back foot.
Mayes jabs but Spina lands a big left hand counter. Spina lands a good right hook to the body, then a damaging left hand upstairs. Spina won the round with his activity. Mayes needs to pick up the work rate.
Spina starts the second landing decent potshots, but still has the right cocked. Heʼs really loading up, smiling at his opponent. Spina unleashes a huge right hook, followed by a left; Mayes has some good whiskers to not be on his back after that. Approaching the halfway point in the round, Mayes seems tentative to throw and is simply is target practice for Spina, who continues to throw combinations. Mayes is not challenging Spina at all.
In the third round, Spina circles with the right hand loaded up until Mayes finally lands a straight right hand. Spina is caught by a low blow; the punch was just a hair low and Spina is doing a fine acting job. When the action commences, Mayes is starting to warm up with uppercuts to the body of Spina.
Spina fires a hook that glances off Mayesʼ glove and Mayes fires back, connecting. Spina lands a monstrous right hand that forces Mayes back. Mayes was hurt at the end of the round, but stood in there to finish.
Round four starts out with both men throwing and landing the jab. Mayesʼ seems to have more pop to it as Spinaʼs is more of a decoy. Mayes catches Spina with two big right hooks and Spina was surprised.
A low blow is thrown by Mayes again. This one was definitely low and hurt Spina. When the fight commences, Mayes pays for the low blow with a left hook. Spina follows up with an uppercut that jars Mayes. Mayes lands a sneaky right hand. Spina tries to pour it on at the end of the round, but Mayes deflected most of the shots.
Mayes gets the jab working in round five as Spina circles, throwing nothing. Mayes is jabbing apprehensively, apparently fearing Spinaʼs power. Spina lunges in and eats two nicely thrown straight right hands by Mayes. A chopping right hook lands on Spinaʼs chin; Mayes is moving now and lands another straight right.
Spina misses with three wildly thrown hooks. Mayes connects with a right hook, first to the head, then to the body. Spina lands a punch after the bell and seems to be getting frustrated.
The sixth and final round consisted of Mayes moving around the ring, potshoting Spina. Spina circled with his right had cocked back but the movement of Mayes frustrated him. Mayes continued to connect with the Jab. Spina misses with a big right hook. Spina and Mayes trade jabs. As the round ends, Spina holds while Mayes tries to break free to continue throwing.
The fight is scored a unanimous decision for Joey Spina, who looked decent in this affair but he still needs to shorten his punches; they only matter if they land. Spina improves to 21-1-1 (15) while Henry Mayes falls to 6-5-1 (4).
In some good undercard action, Brockton MA cruiserweight Tim Flamos, 20-4-1 (8), scored an exciting third round TKO victory over Chris McInerney, 9-2-1 (2), at the 2:19 mark.
Light heavyweight Joe McCreedy, 7-1 (5), stopped Zeferino Albino, 3-5-1 (1), by TKO with 1:44 on the clock in the fourth round.
Middleweight Andrey Nevsky, 4-0 (3), won a unanimous four round decision over Eric Pinarreta, 2-2 (2), by scores of 40-35 on all three cards.
Flyweight Islander Beauchamp, 4-0 (1), scored a stunning first round KO of game opponent Gabriel Cruz, 2-2 (0), in a rematch.
Light welter Diego Periera made his pro debut scoring a third round TKO of the more seasoned Felisiberto Fernandes, 4-8 (2).
